Drone footage reveals extent of Ventnor seawall damage
Parts of the site collapsed during storms over the winter
Last updated 28th Feb 2023
A seawall that partially collapsed during storms in Ventnor has been temporarily stabilised.
Specially engineered rock bags have been used to fill a huge void which opened up along Eastern Cliffs Esplanade last November.
It's not likely to reopen to the public until the end of next winter.
The extent of that damage has been revealed in new drone footage, showing corroded steel piles with large holes in areas where hundreds of people cycle, walk and run each day.
Isle of Wight council is set to carry out further inspections and surveys to obtain vital information to help develop the next phase of works.
Natasha Dix, the council's strategic manager for the environment, said teams will begin work at the western end of the seawall failure, by the skatepark, before moving further east.
She said: "Our investigations have shown that the damage is extensive to this structure that was built in 1966.
"The seawall here was nearing the end of its life which has been recognised in the development of long-term projects with the Environment Agency to construct new and repair costal defences across the Ventnor frontage.
"Over the next year the community will see the current works continue to fill the voids under this structure and close off the holes from the sea.
"We hope that we can reopen the revetment to vehicles and pedestrians following this phase of works, but we do ask everyone to respect the construction site fencing in the mean time and not attempt to enter this dangerous area. People wanting to get from Ventnor to Wheeler's Bay should follow the inland diversion."
A section of the eastern cliffs revetment was closed in November 2022 after a site inspection following stormy weather revealed a large void and cracking to part of the coastal defences.
The council worked swiftly with expert engineering firms to prioritise protecting an exposed sewer, preventing the reactivation of a landslide and safeguarding the local community.
Daily monitoring continues to take place with the council working in collaboration with its construction contractors, the Environment Agency and Southern Water, as well as consulting with the Marine Conservation Society, Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation and Ventnor Town Council.